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{ 𝚂𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚎 1}
As her time in Small Heath dragged on, Eveline couldn't help but feel useless amongst their missions in the area. Grace was progressing quickly, wriggling her way into the legitimate company at a fast pace. She knew what she was there for, to take Tommy Shelby out, but being there felt pointless.
Grace had stopped complaining though, which seemed better progress than could ever be made with the Peaky Blinders. She'd suggested celebrating her promotion, pulling out a bottle of champagne but Grace only shook her head and insisted upon being early for the meeting with Campbell.
She was quiet- quieter than normal- almost to the point of ignoring Eveline, as if afraid to spill a secret the moment she opened her mouth.
The museum was empty, so early in the morning. Grace wandered the halls, taking the long way around to the statue section, eyes lingering on the feminine figures of foreign goddesses. Inspector Campbell was early too, striding up to take Grace's side with a smirk.
"He is obviously not stupid. All we found was stolen tobacco and whisky," the inspector said.
Grace ducked her head below the brim of her purple hat, eyes scanning Eveline, checking she was there. As the agent and inspector toured the room, Eveline lingered behind. In these talks, she was more like a bodyguard, than an active agent, but she didn't mind. The Inspector was too petty for her to want to talk to and her presence seemed to calm Grace when it came to being near Campbell. His obsession came across as unwaveringly strong.
"Which you left in place?"
"Of course. I would never endanger you." Campbell bowed his head forward until his forehead almost brushed the tip of her hat. "You are doing well Grace."
She walked away and Eveline followed, pretending to admire the porcelain busts that decorated the walls. Campbell followed, locking arms together. Grace gripped her paper until her knuckles turned white.
"I've been working on Arthur. He's easier."
"Than Thomas."
She nodded, only using words when he still waited. "Yes."
"Less intelligent."
Eveline could recognise the annoyance on Grace's face. "Yes."
"Is that a word you would use about Thomas?"
"It's your word." Her voice came quicker then, meaner and fast as Grace took herself from the Inspector's grasp. "He has promoted me. He wants me to be his bookkeeper and secretary."
"A cutthroat gangster with a secretary. The pretensions of these hoodlums are quite breathtaking." Grace said nothing. "Are they not?"
"Yes. Quite breathtaking," she said.
Eveline could see the irony. But still, the inspector seemed to be underwhelmed by her achievements.
